November 5th, 2025 (Continued): “My name is Reumba. I work in student involvement, fraternity and sorority life, and leadership programs. And today you're here for meals with meaning. We do this like this very exclusive deal with our distinguished lecture series every time that we bring one. So this is who we have for the fall, Governor [last name]. In moderating the conversation today, will be Laura. She'll be introducing in the conversation as well as opening up the floor to hear from you all for questions or discussion topics that you all like to read up. Laura is a double major. She's an alumni herself, two time alumni, where she studied. And during her time here, she led the University of marketing communications department while she got her undergrad and grad degree in reindeeristrative leadership. She had a broad background serving a nonprofit community based in national organization that advance education, economic development, help, human, and social services. Her mission is improving lives in [city]. She has been a one year vice president at G[City]F and has helped the Foundation, regimes, reimagined philanthropy in community impact, including catering the foundation's headquarters on [you know that street name]. Laura first remembers meeting Governor [last name], while he was doing his famous Harley ride around the state in 1998. During his fourth term as governor. Please give a warm welcome to him.” - Reumba
“And I'm to introduce you a little bit, but you can talk about yourself.” - Laura
“Well, I don't want to talk about much. I want to ask questions, answer questions.” - Governor
“I agree. I'm with you. I'm just trying to see if there's anything really critical. I think for people who maybe don't know the background, just a couple high points. Governor [last name] is the longest, has been the longest serving governor in the state, four terms. And beyond that was also engaged by president then George Bush to do some pretty national level workers, like Secretary of Health and Human Services… - Laura
”Yeah, Health and Human Services, right.” - Governor
“And also led a national governors group and really set forward a lot of incredible models around economics, healthcare, investments in education, and then, later, took a real interesting turn that you were appointed or asked to be the interim?” - Laura
“But then I became the president.” - Governor
“And then you were named the president of the board regions because you were doing such a great job.” - Laura
“University’s got that, and I was responsible for hiring your current president.” - Governor
“Mm hmm.” - Laura
“At Steven’s Point was that. How many know TG? That's one thing I told him. I said when I interviewed my city, ‘I like you, and I said, you're basically gonna become the president or the chancellor of [college].’ He said: ‘ohh, I’ll never be made for that!’ And at [rural college], I said: ‘What I want you to do is I want you to go out to the communities, and I want you to meet people, and I want you to walk all around the campus and say hello to students!’ And TG did that, and he did a great job, and I believe he was probably doing the same thing. I'm going to meet with him." I'm gonna have a cup of coffee with him tonight. But I'm very proud of what TG stands for.” - Governor
“Yes, he came to the alumni Association, and he impressed us all with how genuine he was.” - Laura
“Well, very!”
“And I guess, you know, we're gonna open up questions here in a minute because many of the students do have questions...” - Laura
”Good!” - Governor
“The focus of the conversation, one of the themes is really your leadership style, how approachable you are and how you've centered in your career, you know, in all the roles you've had around building trust, how important that is. But I do have an opening question.” - Laura
“Go ahead!” - Governor
“All right. So, jumping right in, is politics harder today?” - Laura
“Absolutely!” - Governor
[Laughter]
“And how would you adjust your style?” - Laura
“I wouldn't adjust my style at all, because my style still would work. Politics have become so partisan and so polarized that Democrats don't like Republicans, Republicans hate Democrats, Democrats want to annihilate Republicans, and Nobody wants to work together. And I think that is just absurd. When I was governor, I did something that no other governor did. I was, you know, I was, I was a young governor, 43 years of age, was governor. And I brought in the Republican leadership at 9:30 in the morning on the first day of the second. And I talked to them and I said: ‘I want to know, you know, I want to get to know you. And I want to know what you need and what you want to get accomplished?’ And then at 11 o'clock, I got rid of them. I had to buy them donuts and coffee, never bringing anything without my money. I always said goodbye. But at 11 o'clock, I brought the Democrats in. And I brought the leadership in, and I said:
‘How far can we go? How much can we accomplish?’ And then at 1:30, I invited all of them, all the leadership, both Republican and Democrat together! And I said: ‘Now, I've met with all of you, and this morning the Republicans said they could go this far. Then we've got a leadership that said they could go this far, and they could go this far.’ I said: ‘We're not that far apart.’ I said, ‘’Would it be nice, you know, if we compromise?’ And we reached a solution and went out and passed it and both sides took credit for it. Took a long time, but they were able to do it. And I tell the Republicans, I said: ‘you know, you don't have all the great ideas. There are some good ideas coming from Democrats.’ Not many. But you've got good ideas from Democrats? You got good ideas from Republicans. Well, I think instead of fighting, you know, let's get something done. And today, you know, everybody wants us to fight. I mean, they want to get on the 5 o'clock news about how bad you are or how bad you are, and how good they are. And I just can't understand, you know, why people can't see what's the reason for running? You know, you run for an office to do what? To serve, right? You get elected to serve, take out their responsibility, but they don't see it that way. They just want to tear down, and I on the other hand, I'm a builder. I come from Elroy, Wisconsin, very poor, didn't have anything, and I always felt, you know, it was important to get something done. And that's the kind of attitude, you know, that I brought to government. Wherever I was, it was: ‘Let's get something done. Let's, you know, let's discuss it, let's argue about it. But let's make some compromise, get something done. And let's do what we ran for, and that is to serve them.’ And so, that's my philosophy, and I also find it really, you know, somewhat depressing, that you talk to you talk to candidates right now. Nobody can tell you, you know, why they're running, except that: ‘I'm better than you!’ You don't want to let him or her, because they're bad people. I'm better. Well, what are you gonna do? Well, don't elect him because they're bad. I want people, you know, run for public office and tell you, you know, I want to be able to make the road safe. Fine. It's something, you know. I want kids, everybody can be able to read, you know, by the time they're in second grade. and I'm gonna do everything I possibly can to accomplish that, and I'm going to go into the classrooms and help the teachers teach those students how to read. Do something, but have an agenda for what you're gonna write. And so that's my concern, that's how I do. And today, does that happen that way? People don't run for public office, for accomplishing that much. They just run because they're a Republican and they hate Democrats, and they're a Democrat, and they hate Republicans. And that's that has become the tenor of our times. And I just I find that offensive, but I find it tearing down at the basics of our democracy.” - Governor
“So, that's all very true. I mean, you are so authentic with your approach and connection, with people, and how you've been effective at bringing people together. Let's turn to a question related to the theme we're on. Does anyone have a question about leadership style or you know, some of the accomplishments and how the governor was successful in his roles. If not, just we'll go random, but come here.” - Laura
[Amber raises her hand]
“Please tell me about yourself!” - Governor
“Hi, my name's Amber.” - Amber
“Amber?” - Governor
“Yes!” - Amber
“Where are you from?” - Governor
“I am from [city], actually.” - Amber
“Oh, good.” - Governor
“Yes.” - Amber
“Where did you go to school?” - Governor
I went to RR High School.” - Amber
“Okay…” - Governor
“It's a public high school.” - Amber
“Yeah, I know.” - Governor
“And yeah, I'm a junior in the fall.” - Amber
“What are you majoring in?” - Governor
“Journalism advertising and media studies.” - Amber
“Journalism and what?” - Governor
“Advertising and media studies, it’s multiple.” - Amber
“What do you want to do?” - Governor
“I’m kind of on a cross section. I feel like that's always the case. Like, I figured it out. I was undecided, and I figured out my major, and then I’m like: ‘I don't know if I actually love my major. But I know I want to do something that helps the world.’ Which is, like everyone goes into what they're doing for the most purpose because they want to help some type of people.” - Amber
[POST SPLIT INTO MULTIPLE PARTS DUE TO CHARACTER LIMIT]
